Automatic shut off for switches



April 2, 1935..

J. R. HAINES 1,996,417 AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF FOR SWITCHES Filed May 1, 1935ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 2, 1935 mreo s PATENT OFFIGE 1,996,417 AUTOMATICsun-r oFi FOE swlronzs Joan Ralph names, mama, is. .1. Application my 1,1933, semi No.'668,831 's'oiai'ais. (01. zone) This invention relates toan improved steering wheel actuated shut off for switches for use inconnection with direction signals as installed on motor vehicles, andparticularly in connection with the type of "switch set forth "andclaimed in the application of John Ralph Haines, filed March 25, 1932,Serial No. 601,279. 7

In switches of the type disclosed in the above identified applicationmanual means are employed'for actuating the switch; either on or off.However in the present invention, wanes is the purpose to operate theswitch manually, it is also the purpose to restore it t'oin'itial'position auto matically through the medium of a steering wheel of themotor vehicle.

Another purpose is to provide a lev'er with means 'to clamp the lever ona rotating rod or shaft of the switch, said rod or shaft carrying thetype of frog as disclosed in the co peiidihg application aboveidentified.

Another purpose is to'pr'ovide means mounted on the lever andcooperating with a segment guide on the top of the housing for theswitch, said means adapted to engage with a notch in the segment forretaining the operating lever in its initial position, the ends of thesegment guide acting to limit the lever in its two extreme positions,said positions being for holding movable contact arms of a switch frogin engagement with certain contact points of the switch.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no waylimitative, and that while still keeping within the scope of theinvention, any desired modification of details and proportions may bemade in the construction of the appliance according to circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts to behereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a steering column with a steeringwheel in section showing an automatic shut off as applied to a switchsupported on the column.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the steering wheel with the automatic shutofi applied to a switch.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the switch showing the automatic shut off.

Figure 5 is a plan view with the cover of the switch casing removed.

Figure 6 is a detail view in elevation of a part of the switch casingshowing a side view of the off with thejsihiit off lever in a positionreadyjto be restored to initial position.

p gure 7 is a sectional view through one of the actuators 20 as appliedto'the spoke of the steers hs Figure 8 is a sectional view on line 6 0!Referring to the drawing l identifies a casing for housing a switc h such as disclosed mine above iiti li ion s d s ch nc udiing a switch frog2 for cooperation; with certain contacts for closing circuits to provewhether or not certain direction signals or lamps are lighted. The svvit'chfalso includesa rod or shaft 3"extend} ing through the to p'ofthe housingprovided with a square; or rectangular end 4; which" enterscorrespondingly shaped opening} of a switch lever 6; thiscorrespondingly shaped opening is io rimedythe side'of the level is;split s Wn. at .fifi th e. jsa sc w. 1 af' ls if eme; n o w vewh amzwanis spac ed or split from the belly of the later. This screw tightens thewall toward the body of the lever, in order to clamp the lever on to thesquare or rectangular end of the shaft or rod.

The body of the lever is provided with a rectangular opening 8, in whicha lug 9 of a detent I0 is pivoted upon a pin H. The lever engages underan arch l2 of a curved segment l3, which is a part of the top of thehousing. This curved segment has a notch M, which receives a V- shapedlug l5 carried by one end of the detent. The other end of the detent hasa lug IS with which one end of a coil spring l1 engages. The other endof the coil spring sets in a cavity IQ of the body of the lever, therebyso tensioning the detent as to retain the V-shaped lug on one end of thedetent in engagement with said notch H. In this manner the lever isretained in its initial position, with the switch frog in its initialposition.

The steering wheel I9 has two of its spokes provided with actuators 20.Each actuator consists of a block 2| including a band 22, which issecured upon the spoke as shown. This block 2| has a socket 23, in whicha ball or spherical member 24 is mounted. The ball or spherical memberis spring tensioned as shown at 25 and is adapted to ride over theV-shaped lug 26 on the upper face of the detent opposite the V-shapedlug l5, when moving the steering wheel in one direc tion, that is tosay, when the switch lever has been actuated to its limiting position,for either having operated the switch when being moved to prove certainsignals, or when having been moved to prove certain other signals. Thespring tensioned ball or spherical member upon return of the steeringwheel to its initial position for driving straight ahead, after havingactuated the switch, the spring tensioned ball or spherical memberengages with the V-shaped lug on the upper face of the detent, forrestoring the lever to its initial position.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is:

1. A direction indicator switch comprising a steering-column-carriedcasing, a switch lever having a pivotal mounting on top of the casingfor swinging movement forwardly or rearwardly to close either of twodirection indicating cir-.

cuits, the casing on the top being provided with an arcuate segmentstraddling the lever to limit both the forward and rearward movements orso that the latter may impart movement to the lever except when the lugis engaged in the notch of said segment.

2. A direction indicator switch comprising a steering-column-carriedcasing, a switch lever having a pivotal mounting on top of the casingfor swinging movement forwardly or rearwardly to close either of twodirection indicating circuits, the casing on top being provided with anarcuate segment straddling the lever, a detent having a pivotal mountingintermediate its ends,

the detent being carried by said lever with one end overhanging thesegment, a spring interposed between the other end of the detent andsaid lever to yieldingly impel the overhanging end of the detent towardthe segment, the segment having a centrally disposed notch and thedetent having a lug engageable in said notch to yieldably retain thelever in neutral position, and a steering-wheel-carried actuator formovement over the casing in rotation of the steering wheel,

the detent being disposed in the path of said.

actuator so that it may impart movement to the lever except when the lugis engaged in the notch of said segment.

3. A direction indicator switch comprising a steering-column-carriedcasing, a switch lever having a.'pivotal mounting on top of the casingfor swinging movement forwardly or rearwardly to close either of twodirection indicating circuits, the casing onthe top being provided withan arcuate segment straddling the lever to limit both the forward andrearward movements of the latter, a detent mounted on the lever andextended beyond the mounting to ride on the segment, a spring connectedwith the detent and carried by the lever to yieldingly impel theextended end of .the detent toward the segment, the segment having acentrally disposed notch and the detent having an element engageable insaid notch to yieldably retain the lever in neutral position, and asteering wheel-carried actuator for movement over the casing duringrotation of the steering wheel, the detent being disposed in lever is ateither end or the segment when the v actuator is betweenthe ends of thesegment but moving toward that end at which the lever is disposed.

JOHN RALPH HAINES.

